Meininger Hotels, Brussels – An Affordable Design Hotel

Following research, we loved what we saw about Meininger Hotel and asked to drop by to take some shots. They were kind enough to provide us with accommodation, however all thoughts and opinions are – as always – formed independently and without agreement to be favourable.

Finding accommodation on our travels that is not only friendly for our budget and a joy to stay in hasn’t always been easy, but with design hotel experiences popping up like the Meininger Hotels experience in Brussels, we can rest easy in the knowledge we’ll have somewhere cool to spend the night.

Brewing A Belgian Hotel

Located no less than a five minute metro journey or ten minute casual walk from the very center of the often regarded, capital of the European Union, Meininger Hotel, Brussels is well placed for everyone from backpacker to a holidaying family to have an easy and relaxed time in the city.

Part of the reason that this design hotel is located in this particular part of Brussels is its former use, which easily explains why it’s not situated in the very center of town.

This enormous red brick building was in a former life just one amongst many breweries of the now internationally famous Beligum beer that makes people even take road trips across entire countries to try, just as Edna of ExpatEdna did just a few weeks ago..

After years of neglect and use only by those looking for shelter or just to party, the former brewery saw its last moments before its new lease of life and reinvention as an affordable design hotel, as a workshop and art space by graffiti and street artists, who used the large floor space and empty plastered and red brick walls to practice and apply great pieces of art that led to much admiration from locals, travellers in-the-know; but also from the future architects and interior designers for the hotel.

Areas Of Art Inspiration

As you’ll see on your arrival, the building owes plenty to the artists who decorated the walls before the former brewery was acquired by Meininger Hotels. Though the original art pieces were too beyond saving due to the damp conditions that the building found itself after many years and decades of neglect, the inspiration had is clear to see from the nods to graffiti throughout the lobby.

These dedications to art aren’t just to be found in the lobby, however, but also throughout the rest of the public spaces for the many travellers that pass through the doors from dawn until dusk. From the bar to the common space, the breakfast hall to each of its several floors; this design hotel has art everywhere, and the original walls show their colour too.

A Comfortable Rest

After a day of walking around the city, trying to cover everything that Roy at Europe Up Close suggested we could see in one day in Brussels, returning back to the hotel to our room was a delight. To be able to relax in a room where good design hasn’t been spared regardless of the cheap prices of the hotel was a dream. Sitting at the desk and writing our next post about our vegan travel challenge, we felt relaxed and comfortable, and surrounded in bright colour and light.

When we weren’t relaxing we were of course making the most of the free to use open kitchen where we could easily make something to eat, just as long as we were prepared to wait as it seems many people were happy to get a cheap, yet comfortable room that weekend.

A Vegan Viewpoint

Seeing as our few days in Brussels was also the first week of our vegan travel challenge, we of course looked at the options available to guest staying who follow a vegan lifestyle, therefore with differing dietary needs.

The Meininger Hotel, Brussels offers an added on buffet breakfast selection that we were very lucky to be given the option to choose. For the most part, the buffet breakfast caters for omnivores, which in reality isn’t too surprising. With multiple choices of cheese, cured meats, yogurt, milk, and butter based spreads; there wasn’t much left for us to pick. However, what we could choose, we did happily and left full stomached and ready for spending another day in Brussels, much like the day had by Dan and Casey of A Cruising Couple.

Having bought a carton of soya milk locally to use for breakfast was a great solution to our problem and it aided us the following morning so that we could try the cereals, and we did also feast on some (happily) overloaded bowls of salad that get us going until lunch. Hopefully the next time we visit there will be a better choice for vegans, but needless to say, we didn’t go hungry.

Brussels Is Calling

Our last night came and went with a sound and interruption-free sleep, leaving the next morning felt like a big disappointment as we felt ourselves relaxing in this art and design-filled surrounding quite easily, as did so many others who quite easily and frequently would fall asleep in the hotel lobby.

Our last thought as we checked out was that we were both incredibly thankful to Meininger Hotels for providing a great design hotel in Brussels that artists and art lovers can check into that offers cheap prices, without being cheap on the design.

So as mentioned, we grabbed a soya milk carton from around the corner, skipped most of the butter and dairy based options, and had some muesli and other cereals all mixed together. We also made some salad sandwiches too 🙂

Thanks so much for sharing, this place looks like an amazing option when in Brussels. I love that over the last years so many small and affordable design hotels were opened all over the world. It makes travelling the world even more fun.Dorothée Lefering recently posted…10 fantastic things to do in Cape Town

We’ve been really please too to see both hostels and hotels combining their methods, realising that good design doesn’t have to be exclusive, and that you can bring the friendly mentality of hostels to hotels whilst not appearing too trendy for older or more business orientated clients.